David Isaac
David Isaac, CBE is a British solicitor and Provost of Worcester College, Oxford, where he took office in July 2021.[1] He was previously a partner at law firm Pinsent Masons. He was appointed as the chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2016,[2] serving in that capacity until August 2020. He is also chair of the Court of Governors at University of the Arts London (2018–present).[3] He was previously chair of Stonewall from 2003 to 2012.[4] He was a director of the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund (2005–2014), the Big Lottery Fund (2014–2018),[5] Black Mountains College (2019–20) and a trustee of 14-18 NOW (2016–2019).[6]
Isaac was appointed a CBE in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours list for services to equality and diversity[7] and was ranked 36th in the OUTstanding top 100 LGBT executives in October 2018.[8]
Early life
[edit]Isaac was born in Wales and attended King Henry VIII Grammar School in Abergavenny. He went on to study law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge and socio-legal studies at Wolfson College, Oxford. He attended the College of Law in Guildford to pass the Solicitors Final Examination (1979–80).
Pinsent Masons
[edit]Isaac was a partner at Pinsent Masons law firm from 2000 to 2021. He was Head of the firm's advanced manufacturing and technology sector from 2014 – 2019 and Chair of the Pinsent Masons' Diversity and Inclusion group.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
[edit]Isaac was appointed as Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2016.[9] He said that the Commission would use its legal powers more,[10] do more for disability rights[11] and make sure that human rights were protected during Brexit.[12]
His tenure came to an end in August 2020, and his initial replacement was interim chair Caroline Waters (previously deputy chair).[13][14][15]
In 2021 Isaac claimed that the Equality and Human Rights Commission was "being undermined by political pressure" by the Second Johnson ministry.[16]
Stonewall
[edit]During his time as chair of Stonewall, the charity lobbied to secure legislative change, such as the abolition of Section 28 and the introduction of Civil Partnerships.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ "Welcome to our Provost David Isaac CBE". Worcester College, Oxford. 1 July 2021.
- ^ "EHRC appointments". GOV.UK. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ UAL (8 January 2019). "David Isaac CBE named new Chair of Governors". UAL. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Government nominates former Stonewall chair to head equality commission". PinkNews. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Three Big Lottery Fund board members appointed". GOV.UK. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Team and Board". 14-18 NOW. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Birthday Honours 2011: CSV - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "The OUTstanding lists 2018: LGBT+ leaders and allies". Financial Times. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ Sawer, Patrick (19 March 2016). "New equalities head would be biased against Christians, claim campaigners". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "EHRC has become 'more muscular' on Equality Act enforcement, says chair". Disability News Service. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ Bowcott, Owen (6 July 2016). "David Isaac: 'Disabled people face huge barriers'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ Doward, Jamie (13 January 2018). "Brexit bill leaves a hole in UK human rights". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Recruitment starts for new EHRC Chair and board members". GOV.UK. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ Kotecha, Sima (28 July 2020). "Government 'failing to prioritise tackling racism', says watchdog boss". BBC News. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ Ng, Kate (9 August 2020). "'Toxic' debate around transgender rights harms the UK, says human rights expert". The Independent. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "EHRC undermined by pressure to support No 10 agenda, says ex-chair". The Guardian. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ Sawer, Patrick (19 March 2016). "New equalities head would be biased against Christians, claim campaigners". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- Provosts of Worcester College, Oxford
- Alumni of Wolfson College, Oxford
- Alumni of Trinity Hall, Cambridge
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- People educated at King Henry VIII School, Abergavenny
- Alumni of the University of Law
- 21st-century British lawyers
- People associated with the University of the Arts London
- British LGBTQ lawyers
- British LGBTQ businesspeople
- Living people
- 21st-century British LGBTQ people